Cutting tools and detachable work-holders therefor



May 30, 1961 J. FREEDMAN 2,985,957

CUTTING TOOLS AND DETACHABLE WORK-HOLDERS THEREFOR Original Filed Jan.15, 1952 IN VEN TOR. Jesse Freedman United States Patent Ofiice2,985,957. Patented May 30, 1961 CU'ITING TOOLS AND DETACHABLEWORK-HOLDERS THEREFOR Jesse Freedman, 208 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda,Calif.

Original application Jan. 15, 1952, Ser. No. 266,581. Divided and thisapplication Oct. 6, 1955, Ser. No. 539,037

3 Claims. c1. 30-124 (Granted under Title 35, U.-S. Code (1952), see.266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by orfor the Government of the United States of America for governmentalpurposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This application constitutes a division of my co-pending applicationSer. No. 266,581, filed January 15, 195 2, now abandoned.

This invention relates to tools and more particularly to cutting toolshaving means for gripping a workpiece while being cut. The primaryobject of this invention is to provide a simple and effective cuttingtool adapted to hold a workpiece being cut and to provide means foraccomplishing this function. Another object of this invention is toprovide a cutting tool having the region of its cutting jaws insulatedand to provide means for effecting this insulation.

The features of the invention can perhaps best be pointed out inrelation to a wire cutter of the type commonly known as diagonals ordiagonal cutters. It has long been known that when wire, particularlystiif, springy wire, is cut by such a tool, the cut piece frequentlyflies away from the tool with considerable force, not only inflictingpossible injury on the operator but also possibly lodging in aninconvenient place. Prior art attempts to eliminate this difficulty areexemplified in US. Patent No. 1,862,556, in which there is shown screwedto one jaw of such a wire cutter a fixed gripping element and to theother jaw pivoted a cooperating gripping element urged into abutmentwith the fixed gripping element by means of a spring. The object of thisarrangement is to grip a wire or workpiece being cut to hold it duringthe cutting process and thereafter. However, such prior art devicessuffered from several deficiencies that have made their use impractical.Applying such gripping elements to a standard cutter already in userequires drawing the temper of the jaw portion so that holes can bedrilled in it for screws, drilling the holes, re-tempering the jaws andsubsequently attaching the gripping elements. This is an expensive,time-consuming, inconvenient procedure. Furthermore, it results in theaddition of parts protruding irregularly from the surface of the tooland subject to disarrangement when the tool is tossed about in toolboxes, for example, and possibly hindering the approach of a tool to aworkpiece or a wire to be cut in confined spaces. Other prior artdevices have required redesign of standard tools to enable theattachment of shields or similar elements for the purposes of theinvention. This, again, involves considerable unwarranted expense andrenders the suggestions impractical. According to the present invention,it is contemplated to apply to a cutting tool gripping elements forgripping a workpiece to be cut without in any way requiring redesign ofa standard tool or involving any extensive amount of labor in applyingthe gripping elements or treating a standard finished tool in any mannerso as to adversely affect the temper there of or providing complicatedparts that may undesirably protrude or be subject to getting out oforder. Aprincipal feature of the invention involves the application,therefore, of gripping elements to a cutting tool by a process involvingno substantial tampering with or alteration of the essential structureof a finished tool such as by drilling holes in it or drawing the temperof its jaws. The invention, then, involves the attachment of grippingelements in the following several ways. If the gripping elements involvemetal structure, they are applied either by spot welding, soldering orsome other similar process involving temperatures insufficient todisturb the temper of the cutting tool or by frictional attachment as byclamping or clipping onto the tool. If the gripping elements involvematerials other than metal, they are applied by frictional attachment asby clipping onto the tool or they are applied as a glove simply slippingonto the tool or they are applied by cementing, vulcanizing or otherwiseadhering to the tool under a process involving no temperaturesufiiciently high to disturb the temper of the jaws of the tool.

Another important feature of the invention is the use of grippingelements of yieldable, resilient material which can often beconveniently molded to rest within the throat of the cutting jaws of atool, thus in no way disadvantageously altering the general contour ofthe tool or its dimensions so as to impair its ability to operate inconfined spaces. Another important feature of the invention involves theprovision of insulation substantially covering the jaw region of acutting tool for insulating the tool electrically or thermally fromadjacent structures permitting, for example, the severing of a liveelectric wire immediately adjacent another such wire without danger ofcontact being made between the two wires through opposite surfaces ofthe jaw of a cutting tool.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wire cutter known as diagonalsembodying the gripping elements of this invention; v

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of a wire cutter similar to that of Fig. 1but provided with facilities for stripping wire and also provided withslightly enlarged gripping elements to prevent any accidental avoidanceof gripping;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a pair of linemens pliersincluding facilities for wire stripping;

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of a pair of diagonal cutters showing thegripping elements of the invention and the insulation feature of theinvention combined together in the form of a glove-like member slippedonto the jaw region of the cutter, one jaw and its accompanying grippingelement and insulation being shown in cross section;

Fig. 5 is a view of a pair of end nippers having the gripping elementsofthe invention applied to the throat of the nippers;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view partially in cross section of theglove-like member of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a view of the gripping elements of-the invention shown asembodied in a clip applied to a pair of diagonal cutters, which areillustrated in phantom.

As shown in Fig. 1, the numeral 1 represents generally a wire cutter ofthe standard type known as diagonals having handles 2 and cutting jaws 3and 4. The gripping elements adapted to hold or retain a workpiece Whileit is being cut by the jaws 3 and 4 are indicated by numerals 5 and 6 inprobably their simplest form. The gripping elements are made of anelastomer such as rubber or a rubber substitute vulcanized in place inthe throat of the Jaws.

An easy, if crude, method of applying the gripping elements to the jawsof the tool is simply to cleanand slightly roughen by sandblasting orthe like the throat Of the jaws, then coat them with rubber cement whichis allowed to become tacky, and then close the jaws against one anotherand press into the throat of the jaws against the tacky rubber cement agob of uncured rubber or other elastomer. The gob of rubber is bound inplace by tightly wrapping a piece of tape around the jaws and the toolis then placed in an autoclave to vulcanize the rubber or otherelastomer in place. After removing the tool from the autoclave, the tapeis removed from the tool and a slit is made in the gripping materialwith a fine, sharp instrument such as a razor blade along the line ofseparation between the jaws, thus allowing the jaws of the tool toseparate in the usual manner. The excess portions of the gob of grippingmaterial are buffed off on a bufiing wheel or the like and'the tool isready for use. For mass production, particularly of more finely finishedand efficiently produced tools, a multiple-position mold can be usedadapted to receive and hold a number of similar tools in ,place duringthe vulcanizing operation.

In using the tool, it is employed inthe ordinary manner, taking carethat it is so oriented relative to the wire or other workpiece to be cutthat that portion of the workpiece which it is desired to retain extendsinto the throat of the cutters. Then, as the jaws are closed to severthe workpiece, the portion extending into the throat is gripped and heldby the elements and 6 during and after severing until the jaws areopened.

In- Fig. 2, a pair of wire cutters similar to that in Fig. 1 is shownhaving jaws 8 and 9 provided with gripping elements 10 and 11. The jawsof this cutter are notched in a well-known manner at 12 and 13 tofacilitate stripping insulation from wire. In order to allow thestripping notch to operate, a recess is formed in each of the grippingelements as shown at 14 adapted to receive the insulation on wire to bestripped by the tool. Were these recesses not formed in the grippingelements, the extra bulk of the insulation between the gripping elementswould prevent the jaws of the tool from closing sufliciently toeffectively strip the wire. As a safety precaution, the recesses 14 donot extend entirely through the gripping elements but a thin section 15is left un-recessed. Thus if the cutter is used to cut ordinary barewire, there is still suflicient gripping element material adjacent everyregion of the cutting jaws to insure gripping the 'Wl1'6 and prevent itsbeing expelled from the cutter. As an added safety feature in thisembodiment, the gripping elements are formed to provide tips orextensions 16 and 17 protruding sufiiciently beyond thetips of the jaws8 and 9 so that it is impossible to insert a piece of wire to be cut bythe tool, at however acute an angle relative to the line of contact ofthe jaws, without being gripped adequately by the gripping elements.

Fig. 3 shows a linemens pliers in which gripping elements 19 and 20 havebeen vulcanized in the throat of the tool. The entire throat is notfilled with the rubber-like material since the tool is customarily usedfor turning nuts or bolts on electrical apparatus by employing thestraight sides 21 and 22 of the throat recess as the jaws of a pliers orwrench. By only partially filling the throat with gripping elementmaterial sufiicient depth is left to the faces 21 and 22 to insureadequate gripping of a nut or bolt while at the same time there is anadequate depth to the gripping elements to insure gripping pieces ofwire or other material being cut.

Fig. 4 shows a pair of diagonal cutters similar to those in Figs. 1 and2 towhich has been applied a glove-like element 23 to provide not onlygripping elements 24 and 25 similar to those in Figs. 1 and 2 but alsocomplete covering of the jaw'region of the tool to insulate this jawregion. The glove can be formed in a most elementary way by simplytaking the tool and, taking care not to roughen it or apply any cementthat might cause adherence, molding a gob of elastomer gripping elementmaterial around the jaw region and vulcanizing the material in placeinan autoclave. After vulcanization a thin A blade, such as a razor bladeor the like, is used to slit the elastomer along the line of contact ofthe cutting jaws of the tool separating the glove-like member into twofinger portions. The material, not having adhered to the metal of thetool, can he slipped on and off the cutters at will. Removed from thecutter, the glove-like member is shown in Fig. 6. Preferably, for massproduction and a more neatly finished product, the glove is formed in amold and includes a bead 26 formed at the apex of the slit of thefingers of the glove to prevent undesirable tearing of the material atthis point. While the structure in Figs. 4 and 6 has been described as aglove, it is obvious that it can be made as a permanent part of thecutting tool vulcanized or cemented in place and thus provide permanentinsulation of the jaws. In operation of the tool this means that, forexample, one live wire adjacent several others could be out withoutdanger of shorting to the others through the accidental contact of theothers with the outer portions of the cutting jaws of the tool. Anadditional, frequently desirable, feature of this type of constructionis that it provides gripping elements on both sides of the plane ofmotion of the cutting jaws, thus enabling the tool to grip both of thesevered sections of a workpiece being cut. A similar result could, ofcourse, be obtained by moving additional gripping elements in the toolof Fig. 2, for example, on the surfaces of the jaws 8 and 9 visible inFig. 2, that is, opposite the throat surface of the jaws. This, however,impairs access of the tool to confined spaces and such constructionwould therefore be used only when the particular cutting operation issuited to it and requires gripping of both of the severed sections ofthe workpiece. While the glove shown in Figs. 4 and 6 is made entirelyof soft resilient material, it need not necessarily be thus constructed.The glove can be partially rigid, being made of hard rubber or the like,so long as the rigid parts are joined together by yieldable material atthe points where stretching must occur. Likewise, when this glove-likeform is attached as a permanent coating to a tool, the portion of thecoating destined to serve as insulation only can be relatively hard solong as the gripping elements and the regions of the coating subject tostretching are made of soft, resilient material. It may be noted thatalthough the glove form of Figs. 4 and 6 includes a tip portion such as27 completely covering the ends of the cutting jaws of the tool, theglove coating can, if desired, be formed with the tips of the fingerscut off exposing the ends of the cutting tool, thus facilitating use ofthe ends of the tool in confined spaces. Under such circumstances, theglove form really degenerates into a sleeve and such a sleeve type wouldbe particularly useful in long-nosed wire cutting pliers where thesleeve, which includes the gripping elements, would surround only thewire cutting portion of the tool and leave the long-nose tips free fortheir usual use. As used hereinafter, the term glove-like member isintended to comprehend both the type of glove illustrated and the sleeveform with the tips cut off the fingers.

In all cases a principal feature of the invention is apparent; namely,that the gripping elements are attached to the cutting tool in somemanner that requires no substantial alteration of the shape or form of astandard cutting tool nor any alteration of its temper by hightemperatures. In this aspect, the invention comprehends a broad conceptthat can be envisioned as embodied as an improvement on the constructionshown, for example, in US. Patent No. 1,862,556. The improvement asapplied to the structure of that patent comprises the elimination of thetime-consuming and complicated process of screwing gripping elementsonto a tool, necessarily involving annealing and tempering, andsubstituting therefor a method of attachment requiring no suchstructural changes in the tool. According to the teaching of the presentinvention suggested methods are spot welding or cementing or the like ofthe metal gripping elements onto the cutter or forming the grippingelements as a clip to be frictionally mounted on the cutting tool.

In Fig. 5 is shown an end nippers embodying the gripping elements of theinvention. In the throat of the jaws 28 and 29 are provided grippingelements 30 and 31 in a manner similar to those of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 7 shows the gripping elements 33 and 34 embodied in a clip 35 whichcan be simply clipped onto a cutting tool, illustrated in phantom inthis figure as a pair of diagonals. Preferably, the elements 33 and 34are preformed in a mold and vulcanized in place onto the resilient arms36 and 37 of the clip. These arms are prestressed to tend to springapart from each other, holding the gripping elements 33 and 34 againstthe jaws of the cutting tool. Similarly, pre-stressing and theresilience of the clip material urge the arms 36 and 37 toward the underportion 38 of the clip and thus keep the clip firmly in place on thetool.

While all of the foregoing embodiments have been described in terms ofgripping elements made of an elastomer or rubber-like substance, it isobvious that many other materials would be satisfactory such as a widevariety of plastics, and, in fact, even certain cloth-like materialssuch as felt. It is preferable that the material chosen be resistant todeterioration from oils or other agents likely to be encountered inoperation of the tools. The primary requirement is that the material besufficiently resilient to be able to grip the wire or other workpiecebeing cut without being permanently deformed sufficiently to preventrepetition of this operation. It should be noted that although theillustrated embodiments all show two opposed resilient grippingelements, it is apparent that one such resilient or deformable elementwould be sufiicient reacting against a relatively nondeformable or rigidgripping element. Thus, for example, one gripping element could be madeof metal or fiber or hard rubber while the other is made of soft rubberor elastic rubber. It may further be noted that in all the illustratedembodiments, for simplicity, the gripping elements have been shown assymmetrically placed in the throat of the tool but for specialapplications it may be found desirable to form the gripping elements tospecial shapes to avoid damage to some irregular projecting part of aworkpiece being cut. It should also be observed that in the particularpreferred embodiments shown in the drawing, one aspect of the inventionappears in common: the gripping element is stationary with respect tothe jaw. That is, it does not move bodily relative to the jaw but merelydeforms. This makes for a simplified construction, avoiding thenecessity of complicated and relatively expensive, bulky, pivotedarrangements.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

For convenience in selecting descriptive language for use in the claims,the following definitions are included. The jaw portions of the cuttingtools shown in the drawings are those portions of the tool other thanthe handles. The portions of the jaws extending away from the handlesbeyond the pivot are designated as the distal or free portions of thejaws. The distal or free ends of the jaws are exemplified by the regionsin Fig. 1 located at the end of the lead lines beginning at numerals 3and 4; similarly, the distal or free ends of the jaws in Fig. 2 are theregions lying at the end of the lead lines beginning at numerals 16 and17. The portions of the jaws closer to the pivot and opposite to thefree ends are called the proximal portions of the jaws. The glove-likearticle shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 4 includes two sheath portions,corresponding to the finger sheaths of an ordinary glove. The sheathportions are separate from one another but are joined at their proximalregions to a common body or sleeve portion lying at the tip of thearrowhead extending from the numeral 23. This common body or sleeveportion slips over the pivot region or proximal region of the jaws ofthe tool. As explained hereinbefore in the specification, the portionsof the glove-like member constituting the sheaths do not necessarilyfully enclose the free regions of the jaws. For example, in use withcertain tools, it may be desirable to omit the tip or distal portion ofthe sheath shown at 27, for example, in Fig. 4; also the sheath, asshown in Fig. 4, has a slit in it along the line of the cutting edges ofthe jaws of the tool to enable the jaws to bear against each other.

What is claimed is: i

1. For use with a cutting tool having a pair of cutting jaws, aworkpiece-gripping device easily attachable to and detachable from saidcutting tool; said device having separate gripping elements of yieldableresilient material; said device having a common normally stationary bodyportion; separate means extending from said body portion supporting eachof said gripping elements for motion relative to each other and, whensaid device is applied to said cutting tool, for positioning each ofsaid gripping elements adjacent, respectively, one of said cutting jawsfor motion in unison with said respective cutting jaw relative to saidother cutting jaw and its respec: tive gripping element in unison withit.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said device includes resilient meansfor holding said device snugly in engagement with said cutting tool.

3. In combination a cutting tool having pivoted jaws with cooperatingcutting edges and hollowed-out portions, and an elastomer member appliedto said cutting tool comprising a sleeve portion encircling the jaws inthe region of the pivot and a pair of channel portions extendingforwardly from the sleeve portion to enclose the outer surfaces of thejaw portions beyond the pivot, the channel portions each carrying fillerportions positioned in the hollows of the jaws adjacent the cuttingedges and functioning to grip a portion of an object which has been cutby the tool to prevent it from flying away from the tool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS646,633 Wiseman Apr. 3, 1900 1,533,535 Audibert Apr. 14, 1925 1,862,556Welhaven June 14, 1932 2,302,810 Steegmull'er Nov. 24, 1942 2,323,497Strout July 6, 1943 2,594,684 Rothe Apr.'29, 1952 2,715,769 LiscoznbAug. 23, 1955

